Velma Horn-Peters

VANHORN-PETERS - Mrs. Velma Pauline VanHorn-Peters aged 90 of Grand Rapids, passed away Friday, September 9, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband, William VanHorn; her son, John VanHorn and her 2nd husband, Fredrick Peters. Surviving are her children, Rich (Kay) VanHorn, Ron (Marti) VanHorn, Susan (Oscar) Padilla; daughter-in-law, Jan Haeffner; grandchildren, Kim (Edward) Thorpe, David (Theresa) VanHorn, Jason (Julie) VanHorn, Aaron (Rachel) VanHorn, Janelle (Tom) Troszok, Christa (Kyle) Hansbarger, Jessica VanHorn, Joshua (Maria) VanHorn. Andrew Padilla, Austin (Kristi) Padilla, Alan Padilla, Alex Padilla; great grandchildren, Lisa (Jake) Hoffman, Amanda Thorpe, Tristan VanHorn, Hunter VanHorn, Devine Dezeeuw, Reagan VanHorn, Navey VanHorn, Abby VanHorn, Nolan VanHorn, Kyleigh Hansbarger, Kaylyn Hansbarger, Elliot Troszok, Evelyn VanHorn, Corinne VanHorn; great great grandchildren, Luke Hoffman, Ella Hoffman, Isaac Hoffman; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Norman (Kay) VanHorn; several nieces and nephews. Velma was a founding member of Southside Church of Christ. Her family will greet relatives and friends from 6PM to 8PM Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at the Stegenga Funeral Chapel, 1601 Post Dr. NE and one hour prior to the service at church. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday at Southside Church of Christ, 1304 - 36th St SE, Grand Rapids. Interment Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions Shults Lewis Children's Home or Emmanuel Hospice. To share a photo, memory and sign the family's online guestbook please visit www.stegengafuneralchapel.com. Memories of Growing-up in Texas By Velma VanHorn-Peters We moved to Lampasas, Texas when I was about 7 years old. The year was 1933 and we moved there because my Dad couldn't make a living on the farm. He was a "sharecropper" which means that he didn't own the land, but farmed the land for a share of the crop. We moved to a house next door to my Aunt Maude. The house was owned by a black woman, and one room still had furniture and things in it so we couldn't use it. The house had three, big, live oak trees in the front yard, and a big mulberry tree on the south side. Also, there was a big live oak in the back by a storage building. A mulberry tree was in back of this building, and we used to climb it and sit and eat mulberries still in the red stage, and I that must have been about the time of the year that school was out. We didn't have electric power so we used kerosene lamps and a wood stove for cooking, and a woodstove in the front room to heat with when it was cold weather. It was taken down in the summer so we could have more room. We would hurry to the kitchen to dress in the morning when it was cold if there were no men around as that was the warmest room in the house. Mother usually made biscuits in the morning when my Dad was alive as he always wanted his biscuits for breakfast. We didn't have running water, so we had to carry water in a bucket to wash with and it was always cold, but after the stove had been going awhile, the stove had a water reservoir and then you could get warm water. Mother did most of the cooking for the noon meal as the woodstove would heat the house up, so at supper we had leftovers, warmed up I think. When supper was over and the kitchen cleaned up, we all took chairs outside and sat. It almost always cooled off, and we'd look at the stars and play hide and seek, or chase fireflies until bedtime. We didn't have grass in our yard. It was just that white dirt (caliche) that is in that part of Texas and it gets as hard as cement, but when it rains, it does track in. Mother used to sweep the front yard like I sweep the driveway. There was city water piped into the front yard, but we had to carry it into the house. My sister, Vada, and I used to argue about who was going to get the water until Mother had to settle the matter. We had a bucket of water that we drank from hanging on the front porch which went across the front of the house. We didn't have a refrigerator (no electric power) or even an ice-box for a while, but then we got an ice-box, but we couldn't buy ice all the time, so an iced drink was a real treat. My dad had a big garden out in the front of the house. The house sat quite a ways back from the road, so there was plenty of room for a garden. And remember that my dad was a farmer so we had a good one. My mother stood over that hot stove and canned and canned that first year. Then the cans started to burst and she lost most of the things that she canned. The water was what caused the problem I guess. It had a lot of sulfur in it. Poor Mom never had the heart to do that much canning after that. She did can fruit and made jelly, and those kept, but never vegetables again. The Year 1936 will always be remembered as "The Year of the Flood." It rained so hard that both creeks that run through Lampasas flooded at the same time. My oldest brother, James, who was married by then, walked to school and walked back home with us and the water was running even with the floor of the bridge. It rained so hard that night or maybe it was the night before, anyway the roof wasn't too good on the old house (it had wooden shingles), and the water came pouring in from the valleys in the roof so that we had to roll the beds up and sit up until the storm was over. I never remember it raining so hard again. At least we lived on a hill so our house wasn't in the flood. Velma's Story By Velma VanHorn-Peters Velma could hardly believe it. She and Vada were on the way to Ft. Hood to take the tests to work at the Post Exchange. They passed the tests and were hired. They would have a long bus ride each day as it was an hour each way. They had to work as there was no work in town that would pay as much as they would get at Ft. Hood. They had been fired from the Egg Plant where they had worked as Vada had gotten involved in a strike effort at the plant where they worked. Some older women at the plant blamed it all on Vada. In other words, they used her. Velma was working in the part where they candled the eggs and did not know about it. They were called into the office the next day and let go. Velma was fired because she was Vada's sister. It was a bum rap, but God was at work. There was no money coming in. Mama had gotten fired from the Sewing Room where she worked because Dewey (our brother) left the CCC Camp to join the Army. She would never have let the girls go to Ft. Hood otherwise. Arnold was only thirteen years old, and there was no money coming in. The girls liked the work at Ft. Hood much better than working at the Egg Plant. They were used to soldiers. Vada worked on the wet side of the PX and Velma worked on the dry side. Drinks were sold on the wet side and on the dry side soldiers could by soap, magazines, etc. Vada worked in a different PX than Velma did. One day after Velma had been working a couple of weeks or so, she was waiting on soldiers and talking to them. As she was doing something she felt something hit her. It was a peanut. She looked around and there was a young 2nd Lt. tossing peanuts at her to get her attention. He smiled when she spotted him. He asked her if he could walk her to the bus stop. She said, "No. How do I know but what you have a wife and three kids?" He laughed and said, "No, I'm not married." He kept coming in every few days and talking to her. The soldiers didn't like it as this PX was not an Officer's Post Exchange. Bill continued to stop by and talk so finally she said, "OK! You can walk me to the bus stop. It was a chilly spring evening, and he kissed her goodbye at the Bus stop. She thought, "Wow! That was a cold kiss." She didn't expect to see more of him, but he continued to come to see her. She was now 17 years old, and Mother said, "If you like a young man enough to go out with him, bring him home so I can meet him." Well, Velma let him take her out to eat and walked around with him until her bus came. She took a later bus and Vada also took a later bus so that they could walk home together. Anyway, Mama finally told her, "If you like him, bring him home." So one weekend she brought him home. By that time Vada had met Ken and they were dating. One day as Velma was working, another 2nd Lt. came in and asked to see a newspaper, and she handed him one to look at. "This isn't the one I told you I wanted," he said. Velma didn't know what to say. She had never seen him before. Suddenly she realized he thought she was Vada. "Oh! You think I am my sister Vada." He looked at her again and said, "Oh! There are two of you." "Yes," Velma said, "Vada is my sister and she works at another PX. Well Ken went to find Vada and after a little while, Bill came in to see Velma. Velma got off about 6 or 7 pm and the last Bus for Lampasas left about 9 pm, so she and Bill took their time walking around talking and usually got something to eat. There was a carnival in town one night. Velma wanted to ride the Ferris wheel, but Bill said, "No, they make me dizzy." Velma was surprised as she thought all soldiers would ride the Ferris wheel. Anyway, she didn't care. She said, "My mother wants you to come home with me so she can look you over. Vada and Ken and you guys could walk back and ride the bus together." They liked that. Bill said, "That was a long dark road going back. We made fast time getting back to the bus station." Bill later told Velma, "Your mother looked a hole right through me." "I'm sure she did!" Velma said. She was a good judge of character. We had a milk cow named Old Brownie, and Mother was the only one who milked her. All the soldiers that we dated and brought home always wanted to watch Mama milk the cow. Mother told us "If you bring them home, entertain them. The cow does not like all those boys watching her." I think it was Mama who didn't like to be watched because the cow didn't relax and let the milk down. Anyway, she liked Ken and Bill both. Ken was from Indiana and Bill was from Michigan. We didn't have a fancy house, but they didn't seem to mind at all. They just loved coming home with us. Mama didn't make fancy meals, but they seemed to enjoy her cooking. Mother could make a dollar go farther than anyone I knew of, and she was a good cook. About this time Bill went home on leave and promised to come back early. Well, he didn't. Velma missed seeing him She went to the park in Lampasas with Ken and Vada, but it was no fun without Bill. She wasn't very happy with him. When he came back, she told him he had broken his promises. He was sorry and tried to get her to understand. She had dated other soldiers while he was gone, but she preferred Bill. He made it up to her. He bought her a rind and asked her to marry him. Velma couldn't say no to that. He had bought the ring set, so they set the date for August 1st. Meanwhile, Vada and Ken had gotten engaged. He was going to be shipped out to Tennessee with his Division, so they were married on July 4th at the same minister's house Velma and Bill would have when they married. Bill and Velma stood up with them. Ken and Vada were still here in Lampasas until after our wedding August 1, 1943. Bill's folks had shipped his car to Ft. Hood by railroad because of the gas shortage. He was glad to get his car! I was almost jealous of it as he spent more time with it than with me. I think he got it a week or two before our wedding. I was trying to find a dress. We couldn't afford a long white dress and I couldn't of found one in Lampasas. Everyone was getting married in a dress and suit. Of course, Bill had his dress uniform, so he was all set. We were married at the preacher's house on Sunday morning before church by Brother Ina Grantham, the minister of the Church of Christ. Mother and Arnold, Jim and Rose Yates and the Two Boys were there. Ken and Vada stood up with us. Bill told me several years later, "Your mother shook her finger at me and told me to take care of Velma in no certain terms." It sure made an impression on him. Bill always had great respect for Mother. After she bought the house on Ave G, whenever we came down, he was always helping her fix up in the kitchen or whatever needed doing. I think he enjoyed doing whatever he could for her. After the wedding, we went right to church services, then home for lunch and riding around all afternoon with Ken and Vada in the "Green Hornet," as he called the 1939 Chevy. The car would take us from one end of the country to the other North and South, East and West. Our first place was being sent to camp McCoy, Wisconsin. We took another officer and his wife as far as Kansas and Bill got new orders for camp McCoy, so we went there. It was early fall and beautiful. I had never seen the North Country. We rented a one room apartment with a shared bath and kitchen privilege. Another 2nd Lt. and his wife had the other bedroom. We got along fine. Bill came home every weekend he could get off. He had a garage for the car. That meant a lot to him because of the bad winters. I was bored silly, and we needed money. So, I got a job working at Barron's Dept. Store for Christmas Season. I loved it. I bought a few winter clothes. We had already bought me a winter coat. I sent money to mother as Dewey had signed up to send her an allotment, but it took a long time to get it. I rode the bus to work. I had to work weekends. Bill hated that, so after Christmas he wanted me to quit even though they wanted me to stay. We wanted to take a few days leave and visit his folks in Michigan. We did this. His folks were so nice to me. They treated me always like a daughter. When we were back, it wasn't long before Bill went with his Company to the upper peninsula of Michigan to try our equipment for a very cold climate. They thought they would have to fight Germany further north in Poland. Anyway, I went by train to Texas and he went to Wisconsin. Me to a hot state and him to cold. When I came back (to Wisconsin) he wanted the windows open. I wanted them closed. After a few days, we adjusted to spring in Wisconsin. I found another apartment. We were by ourselves in and upstairs apartment with a living room, bedroom, and small kitchen. I wasn't much of a cook, but we liked being alone. I was pregnant with Rich. We left in May to go bac to Ft. Hood as Bill's Company had too many officers. He went back to be trained as an infantry Officer. (He had been a Tank Destroyer Officer.) I stayed with Mother, and Bill was sent to Anniston, Alabama for more training. He took the car. It was a hot summer. They put me on a diet as I was gaining weight too fast. Mother saw to it that I stayed on the diet. We walked at night after it cooled off. The old house that she was renting needed a lot of repair, but didn't get it. Rich was born September 17, 1943 at Rollins Brook Hospital in Lampasas. Rosa (my sister) was with me. I was scared. Bill couldn't come home as it was War time and they would not give leave time. We went back to Mother's house the next day by ambulance. Mother made me stay in bed for 10 days. I could only get up to use the chamber pot - no bathroom. She taught me how to nurse Rich. He later on had colic, and Vada, Rosa, mother or me walked the floor with him. After three months, he was fine. I don't think Mother ever had that much trouble with her own babies. Bill had been sent to Ft. Benning GA for more training. Then on to camp Gordon to train Infantry men to go directly into Combat. They had 6 weeks training and then Overseas and into battle. The last week Bill had to be in the field with them all week. I came down to Georgia by train when Rich was three months old. The trains were loaded with soldiers. Once when I changed trains, a soldier carried my suitcases while I carried Rich. He found me a seat, then left to be with his unit. We lived with the Hatchers on a firm in Martinez, GA. They both worked in Augusta. They had built a little apartment for his mother on to their house and that's where we lived. They were very nice people. When Rich was 8 months old, Bill was sent back to Fort Hood for transfer to another unit. The war in Europe was about over, but we had to defeat Japan. It was a rough trip as Rich wanted to be down crawling. We were so glad to get back to Mother again. We were only there a few days when Bill was sent on to Camp Roberts, California. He flew to California, so I had the car. Mother was living on Avenue G by this time. She was happy to see us. Vada was there as Ken was overseas. He had gone over right away with his division. Vada worked at one of the stores in downtown Lampasas. My brother Dewey was killed in November 1944 when Rich was 3 months old. They came and told mother Dewey had been killed. It was when they invaded France, I think, at the height of the war. Mother just walked the floor and screamed. She said, "Rich was a life saver to me because I could hold him and somehow it was healing. And oh, how I missed him when you took him to Georgia!" But, we came back and stayed with her when Bill was sent to California. She really enjoyed him. After we had moved to Michigan, Vada had Sandra. Sandra was another one that meant so much to Mother. I'm sure Mother and Sandra were always close. In the summertime when Rich was 13 months old, Bill called and said to bring the car and come (to California). He was training men to hit the beaches of Japan. The European War was over, but they still had Japan to deal with. I had to write a letter to the Ration Board as the car needed two new tires and you had to have a permit to get them. They granted my petition, and James (my brother) located some tires for me. Rosa, my sister, took me in their Model A Ford to Gatesville to get the tires as they didn't have any in Lampasas. Now we needed a good driver to make that long drive to California. We heard there was a navy man, his wife, and daughter who needed a ride to California. We didn't know them, but we did know people who knew them. Rich and I and their little girl sat in the back seat, and they took the front. We got as far as Flagstaff Arizona, and it was cold. We needed a heater, and you couldn't get rubber hose for the heater. They said they could put pipes in, so they did. The motel next door was full. We sat there freezing in the car. About 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning some people left the motel. They said to go stay in those rooms. So, their daughter went with me and Rich, and they took the other room. We all enjoyed the sleep. The next morning the car was fixed. We got back on the road. Somewhere in the mountains, the horn fell against something and caused a fire under the hood. We had to stop by the side of a very steep place. There was no place to get off very far. The Navy man put the fire out with our drinking water, and we continued on. It was quite a story. We had to cross the Mohave Desert and the mountains again. I thought we'd never get there. God was certainly watching over us. We went to the base at Camp Roberts, found Bill and he took the Navy man and his family on to a bus station so they could continue their trip. During was time a service man was well respected and could get help anywhere there was someone to help them. It was a whole different world then. We rented a motel room with a little kitchen close to Camp Roberts. Bill had me, Rich, and his car back, so he was happy. The war in Europe was about over, but we had to deal with Japan. Bill was well respected by all his men. He had his orders, his lunch, and was ready to board the ship with his men when they dropped the atom bomb. That changed everything. They lowered the points to be discharged and he had enough points to be discharged a little later. While he would still be in the service, he wouldn't be going overseas. They gave his orders and his lunch to another officer. It took a while to sink in. Bill said it was the most weird feeling he ever had, to be so prepared to go and then all of a sudden you are not going- I told you God had his own plan for Bill. I've always known that. Bill was baptized the summer of 1948. We went to burton Heights Church of Christ. God also has a plan for me and He has a plan for you. What is God's plan for you? Contentment By Velma VanHorn The world is constantly trying to sell us a dream. New house, new car, new clothes, new you, and new me, Just sign up here and join the team A new house will make all your dreams come true, And new clothes will make you a more wonderful you. With a brand new sports vehicle with four wheel drive, This will make you feel, Oh, so much more alive. Never mind that you are spending more than you have There are lots of good lessons you will learn. The first is: Don't spend more than you earn. The second is that the house you must clean, And if you ask the family for help, they'll think you are mean. These nice clothes will not fit any more. And the dirt tracked in keeps you mopping the floor. The dishes are all piled up in the sink. Oh! With this headache I really can't think. Calm down now, take a deep breath, things are not what they seem. I've really been having a very bad dream. Look around, this house isn't really so bad. It's almost paid for so I need not be sad. The car in the garage will take me many a mile. So I'll hop out of bed and put on a smile. And be thankful for friends, family one and all. God's blessings to us should make us stand tall. This day let us kneel down and thank Him for His care, And all His blessings, please be aware. I'll just turn off the TV and stay away from the store. I really don't need more things, more and more. I'll count my blessings each and every day. And trust God to lead me each step of the way. Now I'm ready to help others, Just show me where to start, And contentment will come and fill my heart. My days will be happier and more content I will be, To think about others more than about me. THE HOUSE ON RUTLEDGE STREET Number 756 By Velma VanHorn - Christmas 1995 The House on Rutledge Street was built in 1947. To Bill, Velma and son Rich, and Ron who was on the way It looked like a little bit of earthly heaven. Then in the year 1950 who should come to live with them But a boy named John, and now with Rich and Ron this was really nifty. The years flew by fast and the House was very crowded. Then in 1957 to the house a dining room was added. Then in 1962 another bedroom too. All the boys were now in school. It was a very busy time, what with ice skating and going sliding in the winter and in summer swimming in Briggs Park Pool. In 1959 something very exciting happened. A little girl named Sue came to live in the house on Rutledge Street too. And with a family full of boys, this was really quite a joy. Now the boys and Sue are grown with children of their own and the House is very quiet until the children's children come to stay. Then the House begins to wake up and when all are there, there really is a shake up. And when they all go away, the House lets out a little moan and becomes once more Grandma's quiet little home. The Ship of Life By Velma VanHorn (2/12/98) Watch out! Grandma Velm is at the helm. Her ship of life is tossing about. There's dark clouds and lightening all around, But there is no need to cry out. Grandma will call out to God in prayer, And He will answer, she knows He's there. The winds of life will calm and more softly blow, And we will reap just what we sow. So when you're in trouble and don't know where to turn, There is a lesson you must learn. Depend on God, He's always there, Just kneel down and ask for help in prayer. Your way will grow brighter and your heart will be lighter With God at the helm. AS TIME GOES BY By Velma VanHorn-Peters My wrinkles get deeper and my hair gets thinner- But my love for God and the blessings I have Make me a winner. My prayer each morning as I start the day- Please, help me dear Lord To show others the way. Give me the work you want me to do- Lead me and guide me All the day through. Help me teach a class with joy in my heart Just please, Father, Show me where to start. Loving others as you would have me do- Teaching and trusting My life to you. I needed you when I was young And as the years go by- I need you more. Let me show others- The Blessings you have in store. Let those I come in contact with and the Young ones I've taught through the years- Know that God has been with me- Through heartaches and tears. Let me be an example for other to see- God's Love Shining in You and in Me. WALKING WITH GOD By Velma VanHorn-Peters Let us start each day with a talk with God It will brighten our day and lift our spirits As on life's path we trod. We need all of God's grace as we live Each day. We need His love to lift us up. When troubles and sorrows come our way, And our load seems hard for us to bear We must kneel and put our burdens in His care. With his Word in our hearts and Songs of praise on our lips, We give God the glory and lift up Our voices to Him in prayer So that Satan doesn't catch us unaware. Our Father cares, He's there for us. We must kneel down and pray. Then get up refreshed and go on our way Knowing God is with us each and every day. We can tell Satan to go away. And when this life comes to an end Our lives will tell the story of- Our Grit, God's Love, and His Glory! To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Velma P. Van Horn-Peters please visit our Sympathy Store.